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The Illegal Trade in Wildlife is driving species to the brink of extinction while posing environmental, economic, development and security risks. But we can reverse this trend. Countries around the world, the United Nations, many other international and national organizations, businesses, governments and key opinion leaders are all working together to raise awareness, enact and enforce stronger laws, and step up support to local communities’ efforts to stop the illegal trade in wildlife.

What is Illegal Trade?

Many species are protected by national and international laws because their populations are at risk. When people kill or take them from the wild, despite this protection, the animal or plant and its products are all part of the illegal trade.

International trade in endangered and threatened species is regulated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wildlife Fauna and Flora (CITES) which strives to ensure that international trade in wild animals and plants is legal, sustainable and traceable and is not detrimental to the survival of the species in the wild. International commercial trade is strictly prohibited for those species listed as Appendix I.

Illegal trade in wild animals and plants is not limited to endangered or threatened species. The sale of timber, firewood and charcoal stemming from illegal logging or trade in fish that are caught in restricted areas or using illegal methods are, for example, also included within the term illegal trade in wildlife. It’s also important to note that the illegal trade in wildlife is also domestic with many countries having their own national legislation.

Unfortunately, the massive illegal trade in wildlife ignores existing laws, and is thriving. This means that when people buy animal or plant products that were sourced by killing or harvesting species illegally, they’re complicit in perpetuating wildlife crime, knowingly or unknowingly.

Why are so many species endangered?

The world is dealing with an unprecedented threat to wildlife. The loss of habitat as a result of farming, mining and new development has dramatically shrunk the natural space available to wildlife. The loss of space, climate change and an insatiable demand for wildlife products, in some instances being fed by transnational organized crime, are conspiring to have a dramatic impact on the seas, savannahs, forests and plains across the world.

The effects are catastrophic with 100,000 elephants killed between 2010-2012 alone and as many as 3 rhinos poached every day during the same period. Local extinctions are now being announced annually and pangolins now thought to be the most illegally trafficked mammal in the world. This puts a huge burden on countries where these species naturally occur to protect them, straining already stretched resources.

Why is wildlife in such high demand?

There is a deep cultural heritage and history around wildlife products such as elephant ivory and rhino horn in some parts of the world. For centuries, these items have been used in places as religious icons, for medicines and to express creativity through intricate carvings. In more recent history, they have been used for practical items like billiard balls, name stamps, piano keys, instrument parts and firearm decoration.

Today, wildlife and wildlife products are used as fashion statements, status symbols, pets, luxurious delicacies, for gift-giving and by collectors and investors as commodity items, speculating that prices will go up. The illegal trade is not only threatening the very survival of species, it is also undermining development and the livelihoods of local communities. For example, the illegal trade in rare trees such as rosewood not only robs the landscape of a beautiful forest, it also undermines the opportunity for employment in legitimate trade, contributes to corruption and then denies governments’ the chance to generate revenue from legal sales.

As our human population continues to grow, with more and more people desiring these sorts of products, the responsibility is on us to be better informed and make smart choices that do not threaten the survival of species and their habitats or undermine sustainable development.

What can we do?

This trade thrives on ignorance, indifference and turning a blind eye to the laws that govern it. But the more we know, the more we can see how our decisions have a major impact on wildlife, people and the planet. The good news is that we really can tackle illegal trade in wildlife by:

Being better informed about the status of wildlife and wildlife products

Supporting governments and local communities to tackle the illegal trade in wildlife

Spreading the word and encouraging others to get better informed

Reporting crimes when they are witnessed through mobile technology and national hotlines

Working to reduce human-wildlife conflict for land and resources at community level

Making individual choices that don’t threaten species such as not buying products from wildlife protected by law and by supporting companies that demonstrate sustainable supply chains and environmentally responsible policies.

This campaign is part of an ambitious agenda that is being driven by the UN which recognizes wildlife crime as a serious crime and a threat to our shared sustainable development. The new 2030 agenda of the UN sets out Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which have an explicit focus on protecting the integrity of our ecosystems by targeting the environmental crimes, that take place both on land and at sea. They say:

SDG14: “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development”. This goal calls for an end to illegal and unreported fishing, and destructive fishing practices.

"I have always been inspired by wildlife and I want to make it my mission to leave a legacy of a healthy planet, rich with biodiversity, to future generations. I also envision a world in which the communities who live with this wildlife can prosper and flourish, benefitting by living in harmony with nature.”
—Helen Clark, UNDP Administrator

"I pledge to continue to do all that I can to support CITES Parties to make best possible use of this remarkable Convention and to fully and effectively implement CITES requirements. In so doing I will keep working with a vast array of wonderful partners." —John E Scanlon, CITES Secretary-General

Other

CMS

"As Executive Secretary of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), I hereby pledge to work with governments and all key stakeholders to put an end to the illegal take and trade of marine turtles around the world. As a first step, I am lending my voice to the United Nation's #WildforLife campaign to help raise public awareness of the issue as an important step towards tackling the demand."
—Dr. Bradnee Chambers, Executive Secretary of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)

The current crisis in illegal trade in wildlife is a reflection of how much more we all need to do to save our wildlife and our forests. The World Bank will continue to work with countries and partners to combat wildlife crime by providing financial and technical assistance for conservation and development projects. Being a member of the International Consortium to Combat Wildlife Crime (ICCWC) we are also strengthening governments in their law enforcement and anti-money laundering efforts. As a lead agency of the Global Wildlife Program, we are providing technical support and opportunities to exchange proven solutions among 19 countries in Asia and Africa”. –Claudia Sobrevila, Global Wildlife Program Manager

The Great Apes Survival Partnership (GRASP) pledges to leverage the full energy and expertise of the 104 national governments, conservation organizations, research institutions, United Nations agencies and private companies that comprise this unique alliance towards ending the illegal trade in great apes and all endangered wildlife. GRASP will support law enforcement, counter corruption, and change behavior through dedicated programmes, and will insist on zero tolerance for any illegal activity regarding chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans and bonobos. This ends now. GRASP commits to take this message to all relevant policy makers, government officials and key stakeholders to ensure that the illegal trade that has pushed so many iconic species to the brink of extinction goes no further. GRASP and its Ambassadors will aggressively support the United Nations’#WildlforLife campaign to ensure its ultimate success.

“IUCN is in the forefront of efforts to combat wildlife trafficking - we pledge to continue using our convening power, our scientific expertise and our on-the-ground conservation work to bring an end to the illegal wildlife trade.” —IUCN Director-General, Inger Andersen

Connect4Climate is committed to support UNEP’s mission, contributing to addressing the Illegal Trade in Wildlife. In particular, Connect4Climate will use its sphere of influence to support international cooperation and further strengthen political will to address illegal wildlife trade at the national level with a focus on how climate change can exacerbate the problem through affecting the traditional livelihoods of many.

UNICEF commits to Wild for Life because the wellbeing of the planet hinges on the positive engagement of young people to reject, not participate in, illegal trade. We commit to encouraging young people to raise awareness and take action for all people to end harm to wildlife and the environment

Pledge zero tolerance

Help secure a future for your big cat kindred species! Join the challenge by Earth Day, April 22, and pledge to use your sphere of influence to help end wildlife crime.

#WILDFORLIFE

Wild for Life awarded 2016 top ten most influential advocacy campaigns in China by Weibo (Chinese Twitter). The annual award recognizes outstanding individuals or institutions that have had a significant positive impact in the society. Join us!